A cash flow forecast projects the actual cash moving in and out of your business each month, separate from profit. Unlike a P&L, it accounts for payment timing: invoices that haven't been paid, bills due before revenue arrives, and seasonal fluctuations. Twelve months of projected cash flow tells you when you'll run tight and how much reserve to carry.
Cash Flow Forecast for Food Truck
Pre-filled with real food truck industry benchmarks
Cash flow in a food truck business moves differently than in a traditional restaurant, and the pattern catches a lot of new operators off guard. The good news: food trucks are often cash-heavy businesses, meaning you collect revenue same-day with no net-30 receivables. The challenge: your revenue swings dramatically – a rainy Tuesday might bring in $200 while a Saturday festival generates $3,000. This makes monthly cash flow forecasting essential. Your major cash outflows follow a predictable pattern: commissary kitchen rent ($500–$1,500) is due monthly, food vendor payments are typically weekly or COD, fuel runs $300–$500/month, and permit renewals hit at various points throughout the year. The trap most food truck owners fall into is spending peak-day cash before slow-day obligations come due. Event deposits add another wrinkle – some festivals pay you weeks after the event, while others require upfront booth fees of $200–$1,000 that you pay before you earn a dollar. Build your cash flow forecast around your worst realistic month, not your best. Carry a cash reserve of at least $5,000–$10,000 to cover a bad weather stretch or a truck breakdown. If your truck goes down, your revenue goes to zero instantly – there's no dining room to fall back on. That emergency fund isn't optional; it's survival.
Cash Flow Forecast
Pre-filled with food truck industry defaults. Edit any field to use your real numbers.
Monthly Revenue
$20,833
Total Expenses
$7,242
Net Cash Flow
$13,591
Food Truck benchmark: labor at 25.0% of revenue, COGS at 32.0%.